I plugged exclusive membership into Google, and first up was The Kingly Club. Formerly known as the Pinstripe Club, it was closed due to an affair between John Profumo, a British government official, and Christine Keeler, a much younger showgirl. Celebrities from all over the world frequent the current club, and it was voted London’s best bar the last two years. The Kingly Club defines itself as “one of London's most desirable venues; an intimate space to mix, party and enjoy the finest service, vintage champagne, sushi and great music in a post modern environment.”
One of the hallmarks of a post modern society is that it criticizes absolute truths, elevating individual expression and the brilliance of man over and above God. You might think it is a relatively new phenomenon, but when Israel was yet a fledgling nation without an earthly king, Scripture tells us that every man did what was right in his own eyes. Murder, rape and homosexuality – all were sins du jour. Neither is the party hearty mentality new, for the prophet Isaiah rebuked the Israelites for their reveling. And should we forget the beginning verses of Ephesians Chapter two? The Apostle Paul has already reminded us that we all used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. Outside of any divine influence, all of us would still be looking for ways to join a local kingly club.
Because we are born infected and impure with sin, we do not seek the one, true God. We cannot stir ourselves up to take hold of God, for we are dead in sin. Only by the grace of God do we come to see His way as better than our way.
Before Christ revealed God’s New Covenant, no one had access to God outside of Israeli citizenship. Unless one was Jewish, he had no claims to the promises that God gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Gentiles were not part of God’s chosen people, and although they shared in the common mercy and grace that God bestows on all humans, they were, nevertheless, shut out from fellowship with God. Therefore, they had no reason to look for the Messiah. Only Jews had that special membership privilege. Gentiles were without God – the true God – and without any hope of future blessing.
But now, since Christ has come, we can become true members of the divine Kingly Club, for Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of Lords. We owe our position as Christians to God, for He alone made it possible for us to be in Christ Jesus. He has lifted each of us from the dregs of this world to heaven. Christ – in us – is our hope of glory! We are now part of God’s family. For that special membership privilege, to Him be glory evermore!

Mountain Time Moment

At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel,
and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, with no hope and without God in the world.